Astros' Yordan Alvarez suffers 'pretty significant' left ankle sprain, expected to miss extended time
Manager Joe Espada says the slugger’s injury will take time to heal after he twisted his ankle scoring on Monday night
Yordan Alvarez suffered a left ankle sprain that Houston Astros manager Joe Espada called "pretty significant," and the three-time All-Star is expected to be sidelined for an extended period, Espada said Tuesday.
Alvarez injured the ankle when he stepped on home plate while scoring on Carlos Correa's RBI single in the first inning of the Astros' 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. "Let's not get into days, weeks, any of that," Espada told reporters. "We are going to take one day at a time, but this is going to take some time to heal." An MRI was scheduled for Tuesday to evaluate the injury.
Video and eyewitness accounts showed Alvarez's ankle twist as he rounded third base and again when he planted his foot to touch home plate. "It did not look good on the field," Espada said. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, watching from the infield, said he had a "front-row seat" as the play unfolded. Alvarez left Daikin Park on crutches and in a walking boot.
The injury comes less than a month after Alvarez returned from a lengthy absence. He had missed 100 games with a right hand injury and returned to the lineup Aug. 26. In 48 games this season he was batting .273 with a .367 on-base percentage and a .430 slugging percentage, and he had six home runs. Since his return, Alvarez produced a .369/.462/.569 line across 78 plate appearances.
Alvarez has been one of baseball's most productive hitters during his seven-year major league career but has been limited by injuries; he has played more than 135 games in a season only twice. His latest setback is a significant blow to the Astros as they remain in a tight American League West race. Entering Tuesday's play, Houston was a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners in the division and held a three-game cushion over the Rangers and Cleveland Guardians for the final wild-card spot.
Manager Espada did not provide a timetable for Alvarez's return and emphasized the team would monitor his progress day to day. The Astros will await MRI results to determine the full scope of the injury and next steps for treatment and roster management.
Houston will face short-term lineup decisions while Alvarez recuperates. The team has relied on Alvarez's power and on-base presence, and his absence will affect how the Astros balance designated-hitter and lineup construction in the coming weeks.
Further updates are expected after the MRI and as the Astros assess Alvarez's recovery timeline. For now, the club is preparing to proceed without one of its primary offensive contributors while managing a narrow race for postseason positioning.